Band:	American Sharks
Album:	American Sharks
Style:	Sludge metal
Release date:	September 17, 2013
A review by:	BitterCOld

01. Iron Lungs
02. Overdrive
03. Satan's Overture, Pt. 1
04. Indian Man
05. XVI
06. Freak Out
07. Demon With A Glass Sword 02:14
08. Cocaine
09. 11:11

American Sharks hail from Austin, Texas and currently touring with Clutch and The Sword. Missed half their set entering the venue and waiting in an epic beer line? but what I saw was enough to brave the absurdly over-exuberant fan and drop the last of my beer money on their debut disk, American Sharks.

To paraphrase that decrepit crusader in the last Indiana Jones flick, "I had chosen wisely."

For starters, check out the cover, courtesy of GutRot. Looks like what would happen if Marcel heard the call of the west, visited Taco Town and we took a rent-a-wreck on a roadtrip to Vegas.

And this album would definitely be on our "Road Trip Of Deth" playlist.

American Sharks play full throttle, full bottle power trio rock meets stoner meets metal party music. It's the kind of a music that would be used in a tv commercial for an oversized, jacked up truck smashing through chain link fences, jumping small bodies of water and running down demons in the post-zombie apocalypse, all while the driver and shotgun-wielding buddy riding, uh, shotgun let forth with a bunch of hooting, hollering, and the occasional "yeeeee-haw!" (So basically the same as aforementioned road trip, only Marcel is more likely to wield a cricket bat than shotgun.)

The band jams with infectious energy and some catchy vocals, all sounding great thanks to Bryan Richie, who seems to be as good in the studio as when wielding The Sword. The biggest drawback to the album is these guys are way too into the whole brevity thing. They make Torche seem long-winded. Nine songs, 19 minutes. Honestly it's not that big an issue. Better short, sweet, and hit repeat over an album which goes on so long it drags and overstays its welcome like that annoying drunk uncle who visits you, never leaves, and wears your bathrobe.

Enough with the words. Go check this bitch out. Good enough to tour with Clutch means it's certainly good enough for the likes of you. A booze-fueled punk rawk heavy metal vomit party is in yer future.